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Thursday, September 29, 2016

This Works Better than Demands (day 42)

Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
The first chapter of Daniel tells the story of 4 young Jewish lads who had been taken captive by a foreign king and taken from their home to another country where they didn’t understand the language or the customs. Fortunately for them they were considered valuable captives and were to be treated very well, provided for in every way and even given the same food that the king ate.

Unfortunately, the food that they were offered was mostly things that their law forbade them to eat. What could they do?

They could have stomped around and made a lot of noise about how unjust this was and how the Babylonians were stupid barbarians who were going to be judged by God and destroyed in the end. That probably would not have worked out well.

Instead Daniel asked permission to not eat the food that he believed would be wrong for him to eat. (Daniel 1:8) The servant who attended them was afraid because if they did not remain healthy he would be killed for not doing his duty by them.

So Daniel offered a compromise (Daniel 1:12-13)

  I beg you, try your servants ten days. And let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be seen before you, and the appearance of the boys who eat of the king's food. And as you see, deal with your servants.

At the end of the trial they were found to be stronger and wiser than all the other boys. After 3 years they were brought before the king and these 4 were the wisest of all and they became counselors for the king.

They did not make demands, but rather they made a humble appeal to do what they believed they should do. When that was rejected they made an even more humble appeal for an alternative.

God gave them favor and they prospered in obedience. I believe this is an example of being meek and getting a good reward.


Father in Heaven, please give me grace to learn from this example that I can see in the life of Daniel and his 3 friends. In Jesus name, Amen. 

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